Villanova at Pittsburgh
Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Saturday, 1:30 p.m., ESPN3
As is its custom in recent years, Villanova will open the season with a tough test against an FBS foe. Can the FCS Wildcats keep up?
Here’s a look at what to expect as 'Nova’s 2016 campaign begins.
Scouting Villanova
The Wildcats are coming off a solid, if not spectacular, season in which they rallied around a redshirt freshman quarterback to finish with a winning record before ultimately falling just short of qualifying for the FCS playoffs. Quarterback Zach Bednarczyk is now a year older (see story) and looking to improve upon an up-and-down rookie season in which he was named CAA co-Offensive Player of the Year.
There are some question marks surrounding the team’s skill-position players on offense but Villanova’s defense is loaded and could be one of the best best in the FCS (see season scouting report).
Scouting Pittsburgh
The Panthers have high expectations in 2016 after going 8-5 last year and coming in second in the ACC Coastal Division.
They’ll be led by talented — and inspiring — running back James Conner, who missed all of last season while battling cancer after a dynamic sophomore campaign. Reigning ACC Offensive Rookie of the Year Qadree Ollison will also bolster Pitt’s running game while fifth-year senior Nathan Peterman, who completed 61.5 percent of his passes for 2,287 yards and 20 touchdowns last year, provides an experienced presence at quarterback.
On the other side of the ball, Pitt also boasts an exciting playmaker in safety Jordan Whitehead, the reigning ACC Rookie of the Year. All-ACC senior Ejuan Price leads a strong defensive line.
Series history
Pitt has won the only two meetings between the two teams, the first coming in 1911 and the last an exciting 48-41 win in 1998 in which Brian Westbrook had a whopping 428 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns for 'Nova.
Storyline to watch
All of Villanova’s players will have a serious challenge on their hands but none more so than Bednarczyk, who will need to not only stay poised but try to use his speed to avoid getting victimized by a Pitt team that ranked 16th in the country last year in sacks per game.
What’s at stake?
The Panthers will naturally want to prove they’re a top ACC team with a convincing win to start its season — and not overlook a lower-level opponent.
The Wildcats would get a lot of national recognition if they can pull off the upset. But a loss will do little to dampen their aspirations in the FCS, as long as they can stay healthy.
Prediction
Villanova has played FBS teams tough the last couple of seasons, nearly upsetting UConn last year and Syracuse the year before that. But this game looks to be more difficult than those and the Wildcats are already dealing with a couple of injuries.
Pittsburgh 31, Villanova 14